What Can We Learn From the Parable of Two Sons?

 “What do you think?” “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” 

Matthew 21:28, 31

Dear Family & Friends,

Have you ever desperately wanted someone to understand a concept and used any method imaginable to get the truth to sink in? Many parents have felt this way when dealing with stubborn children. Jesus also used various methods to respond to and challenge the people including the religious leaders of His day. The parable of two sons is one of those challenges. 

The Pressure Builds

The pressure cooker of religious and political circumstances continued to build in the final days of Jesus’ ministry on earth. He entered the city of Jerusalem to the praise of roaring crowds and excited children, cleansed the temple of self-serving merchants, and continued to heal numerous suffering invalids. Many believed in Him, while others still couldn’t see the light. 

Seething with anger at all of the attention this man from Galilee received, the chief priests and elders of the people formed a committee to put Jesus in His place. Interrupting one of His teaching sessions they demanded to know by what and from whom He had been given authority to act the way He did. 

Jesus, knowing that once again the leaders only sought to discredit Him, responded with a question of His own. “I will also ask you one thing which if you tell Me, I will also tell you by what authority I do these things.” Did the baptism of John (the Baptist) come from God or men?

Outsmarting His rivals, Jesus knew they could give no good answer. If they said John’s authority came from heaven, they would have to admit that they hadn’t believed what John said. But if they said John’s authority came from men, then the people would revolt against them because they believed John was a prophet sent by God. 

The adversaries, rather than searching for a true answer to the question, decided to take the cowardly way out of the dilemma saying they didn’t know. Jesus then responded, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Parable of Two Sons

Rather than leave the discussion at that, Jesus sought to penetrate their hearts with the light of truth using another method. 

Speaking in a parable, Jesus told of a man with two sons. Approaching the first son the father asked him to spend the day working in the family vineyard. But the recalcitrant young man refused outright. Later, the son regretted his words and chose to show up in the vineyard to do the work he was asked to do.

The second son also received the same command from the father. He responded positively with outward agreement but never went to the vineyard to do the work. Jesus asked the men engrossed in His story which of the two sons had obeyed their father.

The answer was obvious and the men responded correctly saying, “The first.” 

The Meaning of the Parable

Jesus then explained the meaning of the parable of two sons. Sinful tax collectors and prostitutes who believed would get into the Kingdom of God before these men. Even though John had prepared the way for Jesus, the Messiah, these leaders refused to believe that Jesus was who He said He was, while the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe. 

With one last prod Jesus pointed out that even after seeing the positive response to John’s message by sinful men and women, the religious leaders showed no remorse for their own sins and chose not to follow through and obey God by believing Him. 

Do You Believe?

Jeremiah tells us that the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9).  This heart attitude is true of all of us and shows up even in the youngest of children. God, the wisest and most loving of parents, uses all kinds of methods to help people see the truth and to spare them the consequences of their sins.  

Jesus’ parable of two sons demonstrates that no matter what we’ve done or how we’ve responded to God in the past, there is an opportunity to repent and obey. Over and over God makes the message clear through His word: it is through Jesus that we enter God’s Kingdom, but whether or not you believe is up to you.

Love,

Mama

If you have been blessed by Verses from Mama consider buying me a cup of tea to help with the costs of this ministry. Thank you!